The Orange Show is no doubt Houston’s most quirky artistic landmark. We love it as it is, but we were excited to learn that come 2025 it will be expanded into a sprawling seven-acre campus complete with maker studios and more exhibit space for art cars. Contributor Brianna Griff got the details.

Well, the River Oaks Theatre didn’t exactly reopen this year as planned, but we look forward to its return in 2024—or at least, we hope. Contributor Meredith Nudo spoke with those involved with the restoration about what Houstonians can expect from the beloved landmark’s revival.

One of our more uniquely Houstonian stories was about a uniquely Houstonian neighborhood: Asiatown, which celebrated 40 years in 2023. Contributor Melissa Hung, who grew up making trips to the area, penned a beautiful essay about a thriving community that’s near and dear to our hearts.

Here at Houstonia, we love to bring you behind the scenes. Senior editor Daniel Renfrow wondered how the Houston Museum of Natural Science could have possibly transported a giant, 51-foot-long megalodon model into the building for its new exhibit. Her name is Meghan, as it turns out, and Daniel found out how she got in there.

Who knew so many of you were into indie theater? You read with great interest contributor Holly Beretto’s examination of Houston’s small theater companies and the wide variety and creativity they bring to the stage in the city’s already-robust arts scene.

Peach season is a point of pride in Texas Hill Country, which has a long history of peach production (even though Georgia gets all the acclaim). There are tons of cool spots to indulge in the fruit, but associate editor Geneva Diaz found the absolute peachiest of those experiences in Fredericksburg.

Holy priceless collection of vintage toys, Batman! While our Museum District is awesome, those who seek cultural experiences outside the neighborhood will be rewarded. Small indie spots like the Houston Toy Museum make the city’s culture all that more rich and whimsical. Meredith Nudo spoke with the owners about how their collection was acquired and how the museum came to be.

Did you know that downtown Houston is more than 26 percent parking? And that the Houston rodeo owns a 100-acre parking lot (RIP AstroWorld) that is only used a few weeks out of the year? Contributor Allyn West delved into this concrete mystery and muses about Houston’s wild land use policies.

We Houstonians take pride in our many beautiful parks. Hermann Park is already very cool, what with its reflecting pool and choo-choo train, but even more exciting changes are coming to an underutilized area of the park. Section editor Uvie Bikomo got the details.

We had several big-name performers come through the city, but none more close to Houstonians’ hearts than the homecoming of native daughter Beyoncé. Uvie Bikomo was lucky enough to attend one of the concerts—she returned to work on Monday with a hoarse voice from all the singing and many feelings about the show, which she put into writing.

You never know what’s going on in your neighbor’s backyard, and for some, the answer may be chickens. Raising a flock is an increasingly popular hobby among Houstonians, as it turns out. Daniel Renfrow interviewed a few chicken owners to see what the fuss is all about.

Local burlesque performers thought their art form would go extinct after the COVID-19 pandemic, but the crisis turned out to be a blessing in disguise. Now free to do their own thing, dancers are thriving independently and being more creative than ever, Daniel Renfrow discovered.

If you’ve been here long enough, you’ve seen the white bikes propped up alongside roads across the city, surrounded by flowers and mementos. These “ghost bikes” mourn the many cyclists killed by drivers every year and are a plea for change. Daniel Renfrow spoke with families of the victims and the advocates behind the placement of ghost bikes in Houston.

When we walk the halls of one of our many museums, we barely think about the village it takes to bring all this art to life. Geneva Diaz and editor in chief Emma Balter spoke with preparators, exhibit designers, docents, and more about what their job is like.

Third Ward, Houston’s historically Black neighborhood, is certainly changing. But much of its evolution and revival lies in the hands of longtime residents who are committed to the preservation of the neighborhood. Contributor Brooke Lewis examined what Third Ward has become and what it could be.